Our Mission

The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) at the University of Minnesota collects and analyzes data to provide
information for institutional planning, policy formation, and decision-making. Among OIR's primary responsibilities
is ensuring the integrity of the data it provides to University decision-makers, governmental agencies, and other
internal and external constituencies. OIR is also a leader in cutting-edge research, exploring new analytical
methods, and designing and implementing surveys and other data collection tools. OIR not only provides data and
analysis for University of Minnesota needs, but also collaborates at the national level with other institutions of
higher education, policy and research centers, and government agencies to promote best practices and inform discourse.

What We Do

Data Requests

If you are interested in obtaining Student, HR, Finance, Tuition, or Survey data, please first
check the data available on the site. If you are not able to locate the data, then contact our department.
If we are not the appropriate department to respond to your request, then we will help direct you to the proper resource.

Surveys

Survey planning and sampling for researchable activity are managed through the Office of Planning and Analysis Survey Advisory Team (O-SAT), which
includes leaders in the OIR, Office of Measurement Services, and the Office of Planning
and Analysis. OIR is primarly involved with developing, coordinating and administering large scale, centrally
focused surveys, such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU).

Research

OIR is responsible for providing official University statistics and data definitions. We also contribute to the
broader search for knowledge and policy analysis in an effort to continuously improve the U of M learning and working
experience. We strive to remain at the forefront of national research by discovering, interpreting, improving, and
the developing new methods and systems for the advancement of University knowledge and the broader Institutional Research
community.

Analysis

Our staff consists of highly trained and experienced professionals that are experts in data extraction, reporting
methodologies, policy analysis, and advanced statistical methods. In addition to utilizing data provided by
internal and external sources for University purposes, OIR staff have presented at numerous conferences nationally
and published in peer reviewed journals.